The 7 Best Racing Simulator Seats
Special Honors
Sparco Racing Sim Equipment Normally, this manufacturer is known for their top-quality yet reasonably priced aftermarket automotive equipment. They've taken their market a step further and now offer a line of specialized hardware and electronics made specifically for the avid gamer. You'll have to make a significant investment if you want one of their top kits, but they should satisfy even the most demanding gamers. sparco-official.com
Editor's Notes
April 07, 2021:
We did remove one off-brand model that's no longer readily available and not worth searching for. Additionally, we replaced the Playseat Challenge with the more sturdy Next Level Racing F-GT Lite, as they both fold for easy storage, and the Next Level offers superior build quality and generally more heavy-duty construction. Additionally, the Next Level Racing GTultimate v2 is worth a look if money is no object. In fact, it's engineered specifically to bolt directly to the company's premium Motion Platform for about as realistic an experience as possible.
Finally, we want to mention the Sparco R100, which isn't a simulator cockpit at all, but an actual racing seat. A lot of devoted sim fans -- both racing and flying -- prefer to build their own rig, or at least track down the perfect frame, rails, seat, and brackets for their specific wants and needs. This Sparco racing seat is immensely popular among those DIY builders, as it's exceptionally durable and doesn't cost a fortune.
January 27, 2020:
The simulator genre often requires long play sessions with a focus on immersion. Whether you’re piloting a plane or dashing along the highway, having a comfortable seat is vital. Racing sims, in particular, support many peripherals that attach to a metal framework built around the chair itself. Thus, the ability for a seat to hold a variety of external accessories should be considered while deciding which one to purchase. All of the products on this list have great compatibility with wheels, pedals, monitors, and gaming consoles in case you want to enhance your racing experience even further.
In addition, buyers often choose a seat with great adjustability. Based on stature, gaming setup, and personal preference, you'll need to take advantage of adjustable parts. Someone seven feet tall should be able to use one of these racing sim cockpits without any issues. I added the Openwheeler GEN2 since it can be modified into a variety of positions and made comfortable for people of all shapes and sizes. Storage is also a major factor, and racing seats can get cumbersome to transport when fully assembled. While all of the listed chairs can fold up to some degree, the Playseat Evolution is easiest to collapse and store in small spaces.
It should be noted that assembly of these seats takes significant time and effort. These aren't ordinary chairs and may require some external tools and parts to be fully built. Be sure to take your time and pay close attention to provided instructions.